Best Outdoor Cellular Security Camera No WiFi Needed

An outdoor cellular security camera gives you truly wireless portability. With cheap data plans and 4G connectivity you can install them at home or outdoors.

If you are looking for a wireless security camera for outdoors, you need to consider outdoor cellular security cameras. They are super easy to install as the only cable they have is the power cable. And you can even avoid that by choosing a solar powered cellular security camera.

Best Overall: Reolink 3G/4G LTE True Outdoor Cellular Security Camera

Reolink Go is the perfect match if you are looking for a complete wire-free solution. The solar panel ensures that you will always have power even if the sunlight is not ideal. The camera uses around 15-30% of a fully charged battery overnight. If the battery is low, the app will warn you and you and you can plug it in using the included USB charging cable.

In the US, the camera supports the following bands: LTE FDD: B2/B4/B12; WCDMA: B2/B4/B5. If you want to save on data costs, put the camera in sleep mode and only switch it on when you want to view it. This way it will still record footage when there is motion, but it will not live stream it to a monitor which saves you on data transfer costs. If you don’t have a monitor and only use the smartphone app, the default setting is that the camera will stay in sleep mode until you open the app.

Data Usage:

For Reolink Go, data usage depends on the bitrate you have set for the camera. The default bitrate is 1.5 Mbps (for the mainstream, up to 2 Mbps)/160 kbps (for the substream, up to 512 kbps). With the default settings, if you preview in mainstream type about 3 minute per day (about 12-15 minutes in substream type per day), it needs 1GB monthly.

Example data usage from a customer: “…we used 4.5G of data our first month. We’re building a new house and mounted the camera in a tree to help monitor the property and to provide a time lapse photo of the build. Both my parents and my wife’s parents logged into the camera several times a day to watch the progress. My wife and I logged into the camera about once an hour to take a snapshot for use to make a time lapse movie when completed.”

Pros:

True Wireless – no power or data cables.
Expandable SD card storage.
Replaceable battery.

Cons:

No 5G capability
PIR motion detection doesn’t work through windows
Customer support needs improvement.
Motion detection is limited to 33 feet.

Best Cellular Trail Camera: Reveal by Tactacam 4G LTE Cellular Camera

If you are able to get your hands on this camera while it’s available, you are one of the lucky few. They fly off the shelf as soon as they are in stock. With an extremely easy set up and excellent image quality, the Tactacam Reveal is a beast when it comes to portable trail cameras. If you are hunting, fishing, backcountry camping, or just bird watching in the park, the Tactacam will make an excellent companion.

However, that is not the only use for a trail camera. Because they are made to be used outdoors, they make excellent home security cameras.

Trail cameras can be camouflaged by leaves if you have a tree on your property making them harder to steal.
They are extremely weather resistant making them ideal for places where temperatures fluctuate from 30°F to a 100°F.
These cameras work with or without internet. However, they will not transmit photos and just record and store videos, locally on an SD card.

While the camera works flawlessly on AA batteries (we prefer lithium batteries a they are more efficient and last a lot longer.

Pros:

Works without a phone service (No remote notifications).
Works on a native (Verizon) cellular service.
Excellent customer service.
Uses Black Infrared. No visible light when taking photos.
Monthly plans are relatively cheap – $5 for 250 photos and $13 for unlimited.
Can change all settings right from your phone.

Cons:

Max SD card size is 32GB.
Build quality is not the greatest.

Outdoor cellular security cameras work in locations where there is no WiFi but there is a 3G or 4G/LTE connection available. Maybe your main outdoor gate is far down the driveway and the WiFi signal doesn’t reach that far. It also works great for remote cottages or houses where internet signals are weak or non-existent.

You can even carry them with you for your next camping or fishing trip. Because these cameras are very portable and draw very little power to operate. Plus, the solar-powered ones don’t need any electricity as long as you have sufficient sunlight.

Why choose an outdoor cellular security camera

Freedom from cables: 4G/LTE cameras are one hundred wire-free if you use a solar panel for power. You do need to pay a monthly charge for the SIM card, but you get the advantage of not having to deal with pesky cables in the house.

No-WiFi security cameras: You have enough devices connected to your WiFi and don’t want to add another bandwidth-sucking camera. If you have security cameras on your WiFi it is a good idea to have one or two that are independently connected. In case of a WiFi outage you will still have video monitoring through the outdoor cellular security cameras.

Remote connectivity: Where there is no Wi-Fi there are 4G/LTE security cameras. If you want security outside your tent or camper van, a trail camera or a portable camera such as the Reolink Go will work best for you.

SD Card and Cloud storage: All cameras on this list have expandable SD card storage and also the option to store on the cloud although this requires a paid subscription.

Some disadvantages

No Continuous Feed: Due to the limited storage capacity of cellular security cameras, and the cost of transmitting video footage, continuous video monitoring is usually not feasible. You do get motion detected video and real time notifications on your smartphone.

Monthly Cost: 4G/LTE security cameras work with a SIM card and require a data plan to transmit video and send you notifications. Some of them do work without a data plan. But they will be limited to recording and storing video on the SD card.

Video Quality: Most newer models have 1080P video and the trail cameras have up to 24MP photos. These numbers are plenty for everyday normal usage. However, do not expect to identify faces and registration plates at a distance of more than 15 to 20 feet depending on the lighting conditions at the time.

Questions:

What is the best 4G camera?

Our in-depth research found that the Reolink Outdoor Cellular Security Camera is the best 4G LTE camera currently available. Excellent video quality, portability, solar power, and the build quality make this the perfect choice for those looking for a truly wireless security camera.

How does a 4G security camera work?

4G security cameras operate wirelessly by accessing the internet through a data activated SIM card. You need a monthly subscription with your local provider. Power is usually supplied to solar panels making these cameras completely wireless.

What is a cellular security camera?

A cellular security camera is one that works on a 3G or 4G/LTE connection. Its best suited for areas where there is little to no WiFi connectivity. They are also portable enough that you can secure your campsite or mount them outside your RV for protection from wildlife and potential intruders.